Lock means for steering-gear.



J.-A. & L. R. MALONE. LOCK MEANS FOR STEERING GEAR.

APPLICATION FILED DE4J.4.1913.

Patented N 0v. 17, 1914 2 SHEETSSHEET l.

J. A & L. R. MALONE.

LOCK MEANS- STEERING GEAR.

APPLIOA'FJZQN ZILED DEG.4, 1913 Patented Nov. 17', 191;

L o m m w m me. u H um m m m 6 H n m Q M y w,

MM 0 1L 5 w 7 M 1 w l r .1 WN- L UNITED STATES PATENT ornion.

JOHN A. MALONE AND LEE ROY MALONE, OF 1.0.; ANGELFS CALIFORNIA. ASFSIGNORS o HQ.

CALIIGRNIA.

LOCK MEANS FOR STEERING-GEAR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 2 it'll. l.

Application filed December 4, 1913. Serial No. 804 736.

5 count of Los .\ngeles and State of California, have invented certain new and use-' ful Improvements in Loch Means for Steering-Gear, of which the following is a specification.

Our invention relates to improvements in apparatus for preventing the fraudulent ope ation or use of automobiles or similar vehicles, and has particular reference to novel means for holdin or locking the steering mechanism or gear thereof against movement.

An important object of the inv ration is to provide means of the above mentioned character, which are simple in construction, in-

expensive to manufacture, suiiiciently strong to withstand the strains to which the same is subjected. and convenient in use.

Other objects and ad antages of ihisinvention w ll be apparent during the course of the following description.

In the accom ianying drawings forming a part of this specification and in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same, Figure 1 is a side elevation of apparatus embodying our invention, showing the same in use, Fig. :2 is a perspective view of a locking arm included in the apparatus, Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on line of Fig. 1, 4: is

a side elevation of the a aratus'. showin a slightly modified use of the same, Fig. 5 is a side elevation of a slightly different form of mv invention, Fig. (3 is a perspective view of a locking arm embodied therein, Fig. 7 is a sectional view taken on line 7-7 of Fi 5. O

Fig. 8 is a sectional view taken on line 8-8 of Fig. 9, Fig. 9 is a. transverse section taken on line 9-9 of Fig. 8, Fig. 10 is a fragmen-- tarv side elevation of one end of the clamp ing sleeve, Fig. 11 is a section on line 11-11 of Fig. 7, and, Fig. 12 is a side elevation of the apparatus, showing a slightly diilerent use of the same.

In the drawings, wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown preferred embodiments-of our invention, attention being first called to Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive, the numeral 5 designates a rotatable steering rod, mounted in a relatively stationary tube or casing 6, as is customary. The steering rod 5 is connected withthe front steering wheels of an automobile. by any well known or preferred means. (not shown). iigidly connected with the upper end of the steering rod 5 is an operating element or steering wheel 7, including spokes S. as shown. ligidly mounted upon the relatively stationar casing (3 is a sleeve 9. attached thereto by means of screws 10 or the like. Any other suitable means ma be em 'iloved to clamp or lock the sleeve 9. to the 0;: i 1;: (S, as desired. Formed upon one side of the sleeve 9 is a pair of spaced relativel long guide and reinforcing plat s or flanges 11,,

extending longitudinallv of the sleeve ,9,

preferably for its entire length. These plates or flanges 11 atl'ord a longitudinal opening or channel 11. for receiving a longitudinallv movable or reciprocatorv arm or rod 13. having slidah e engap uncut with the inner walls 1' the plates or flanges. as more clearlv lllUSl'ifHtfX'l in Fig. The arm or rod 13 is prmided near its low" end with anelongated slot ll. receiving a transverse pin or bolt 15. attached to the plates or flanges 11. shown. It is thus seen that. the armor rod 13 ispivotallv connected with the plates or flanges 11 and is free U be moved longitudinall between the same such'plates or flanges serving to guide the arm in its movements and to reinforce and rengthen the same. removing the strains from the pin or bolt 15 and comps sating for the weakening of the arm 13 by the slot ll. Connected with the upper or outer end of the arm or rod 13. and preferably cast integral therewith, is an L-shaped head l thto which is hinged. as SJOXYI] at 17. a horizontal arm 18. The outer end of this arm 18 is preferablv forked for raw-owing a bolt 19 pivoted thereto. adapted for inseu tion through an opening Zf 'l formed in the horizontal arm oi the L-s aptml head 16. The free end of the bolt 19 apntured. as shown at 21, for receiving a pad ock or the lil;e. In the use of this form of the invention. the bolt 19 ltlllfllt'd from the opening it which may be readi complished bv swin ing the arm 15 upwardly. whereby the spoke a the whoa-l 7 may be inserted within the Lshapwl head, 16 and locked therein. as l? ohr -"uis from Fig. 2. By ha ing the arm or rod 12; lmgitudinallv movable. it is OlH'lOlH that the same may be moved toward or away front the steering wheel 7, thus rendering it convenient to connect the arm with the steering wheel. The arm or rod 13 may be quickly and conveniently disconnected from the steering wheel by remo ing the pad-lock 22 and 1110\ll1" the arm 13 longitudinally downwardly, the arm 18 being automatically swung upwardly and the bolt 19 withdrawn from the opening 20. It is obvious that by proper manipulation of the arm or rod 13, the same may be swung downwardly out of the way. Great diiiiculty has heretofore been encountered in connection with devices along this line, which has been due to the fact that such structures are ordinarily not strong enough, but when constructed sufiiciently strong they become too clumsy. WVe overcome this disadvantage by the provision of the plates or flanges 12, which lend strength and rigidity to the arm or rod 13.

In Fig. 4, the sleeve 9 is rigidly mounted upon a rotatable steering rod 23, journaled in a fixed bearing 24, as shown. The rod 23 is turned by a hand-wheel 25, as is customary. The arm or rod 13 is connected with the sleeve 9 and in identically the same man-- ner, but the free end thereof is detachably connected with a fixed bracket 26, arranged adjacent the lower end of the steering rod 23, as shown. The means to connect or lock the arm or rod 13 with the fixed bracket 26 are identical with those already described for connecting the rod 13 with the wheel 7. In this use of the invention, it is obvious that when the arm 13 is connected or locked with the stationary bracket 26, the same will hold the steering rod 23 against turning movement, other parts of the apparatus operating in the same manner as pointed out in connection with the first use of the invention.

In rigs. 5 to 12 inclusive. we have shown a slightly difi'erent form of the invention. in these figures. the numeral 27 designates a relatively statirnary tube or casing. within which is rotatably mounted a steering rod 28. Rigidlv connected with the upper end of this steering rod is a steering wheel 29. Surrounding the casing 27 is c rcumferentially expansible and contractible clamping s eeves or rings 30. as shown in detail in Figs. 8 and 9. This sleeve 30 is connected with a casting or bodv portion 31. in the manner to be next described. The bodv portion 31 has an inner concave surface provided with recesses One end of the sleeve 30. which is suitably flexible, is passed into one end of the concave surface 32 of the po tion 31. the same being arranged between inwardly extending guide fingers 34, as more clearlv shown in Fig. 8. The sleeve 30 is provided at one end with a lateral extension or hook 35. adapted for insertion within a selected one of he recesses 33, whereby the sleeve 30 may be adjustably connected with the body portion 31. The opposite end of the sleeve 30 extends into the concave face 32 and passes between guide lingers 38, as more clearly shown in Fig. 8. Plus end of the sleeve 30, as more clearly shown in Fig. 10, is provided with a thickened transverse portion 37, having an opening 38 thercbclow. The thickened transverse portion 37 is provided with a screwthreaded opening 39, receiving the screwthreadcd end of a clamping or adjusting screw l0, which is rotatably mounted within an opening 41 formed through a longitudinally extending guide flange or plate 12, carried by the body portion 31 and prcferably cast integral therewith The head of the screw 10 extends into an opening or recess 43. It is thus seen that the sleeve 30 may be first adjusted by placing the lateral extension 33 within the proper recess and the body portion 31 may be clamped to the sleeve 27 by rotation of the screw 10. The longitudinally attending reinforcing flange or plate -12 has its upper end preferably curved laterally outwardly slightly, as more clearly shown in Fig. 5. The numeral it designates a locking arm, which is preferably elliptical in crosssection, with its greatest diameter extending at a right angle to the radius of the steering wheel 29. The lower end of the a m 4-1 is forked, providing spaced tines 45, which s raddle the guide flange or plate 12 and are preferably prov ded with longitudinal slots 46. Arranged slightly below the recess 4L3, as more clearly shown in Fig. 7. is a transverse opening 47, reccivinga bolt 48. which passesinto the slots 16. to pivotally connect the arm 44 with the guide flange or plate 42. It is thus seen that the arm 44 may be swung in a vertical plane and also moved longitudinally. The function of the flange or plate 42 is to guide the arm 44 in its swinging and longitudinal movements and to reinforce the same laterally.

The upper end of the arm 44-. as more clearly shown in Fig. 6. is provided with an approximately L-shapcd head 49, including a horizontal arm 50 and a vertical arm 51, arranged at approximately a right angle with relation to each other. The horizontal arm 50 is preferably provided with a V-shaped recess 52. Pivotally connected with the upper end of the vertical arm 51, as shown at 53, is a vertically swinging arm 54. the free end of which is forked and is pivotally connected. as shown at 55, vith :1 depending lug 56. This lug extends through an aperture 57 in the free end of the horizontal arm 50. The extreme lower end of the lug is apertured for receiving an element or pad-lock 58 or the like.

In Fig. 10. the apparatus is shown as used in a slightly different manner. In this figure the guide and reinforcing flange or plate 42 is inverted and is rigidly mounted u on a steering rod 59, turned by a wheel 6 The arm 44 is detachabl connected with a relatively stationary brac et 61. The connecting means between the arm 44 and the bracket 60 are identical with those hereinabove described, between the arm 44 and the wheel 29, and it is thought unnecessary to recite the same again.

The operation of the second form of the invention is so similar to the first, already given, that it is thought that no further explanation of the same is necessary, except to state that when the arm 44 is in its operative position it covers recess 43, preventing the improper rotation of the screw 40.

It is to be understood that the forms of our invention herewith shown and described are to be taken as preferred examples of the same, and that various changes in the shape, size and arrangement of parts ma be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the'subjoined claim.

Having described our claim:-

The combination with a plurality of relatively rotatable elements, 0 a swinging arm connected with one element and provided near its free end with an approximately L- invention, we

shaped head embodying longitudinal and transverse arms, said transverse arm extending in one direction beyond the movable arm for a substantial distance and rovided with a vertical opening former there: throu h, a normally approximately horizontaily arranged stri having one end hinged to the upper end of the longitudinal arm of the approximately L-shaped-head and adapted to assume a position substantially arallel with said transverse arm, a bolt a apted to be arranged substantially arallel with said longitudinal arm and aving its upper end hinged to the free end of said strip and its lower end a ertured and adapted to be passed through t e opening in said transverse arm to extend downwardly beyond the same for a substantial distance, and an element to be inserted through the aperture in the bolt to prevent the bolt from being withdrawn from the opening in the transverse arm.

In testimony whereof we allix our signatures in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN A. MALONE. LEE ROY MALONE.

Witnesses:

Dave CARR, W. A. Douonsa'rr. 

